Hey dudes, how was your weekend? Ben and I busted our collective ass painting and cleaning and moving and it still looks an 82 year old grandma with 23 cats and alzheimers lives here. It’s kind of disheartening, but you have to break some eggs to make an omelette, right? We did at least completely paint ONE room (Ike’s future room) and it’s… dark. Like, really dark. Outer space dark matter dark. I think it’s going to be ok once we put his furniture and some light window treatments in there, but right now I’m kind of crossing my fingers and hoping he doesn’t grow up to be a depressed adolescent who only listens to The Cure and dyes his hair purple.

Oh wait — that was me.

Anyway, I don’t have a lot of time today because Karly’s hubs Matt is coming over to rip out the godforsaken built in desk that’s encroaching on my soon-to-be beautiful dinette. Anyone need a 24×40 slab of green and rust granite? Didn’t think so.

And then I have to decide between this color:

And this color:

To paint the dinette. I’m not conflicted, or anything. These aren’t 100% diametrically opposed AT ALL.

Meanwhile, I am dreaming of ripping out the entire kitchen. How did I ever think I could live — even temporarily — with honey oak cabinets? The wood grain alone is making me hallucinate. I think it’s trying to kill me. (you can see what it looks like in the mls pictures HERE)

Here’s what I would like to place in its stead:

Any of these will do just fine, thanks.

Ok, must organize/clean/moon over paint swatches.

Any votes for one or the other color I posted?

[Pinterest kitchens]

It’s getting nervous up in here. I love to make decisions for other people, but when it comes to myself I will waffle endlessly if given the chance. So, on one hand it’s probably a good thing that the baby is theoretically coming in four months. On the other hand, I’m starting to panic that we’re going to end up with a patchwork quilt of insanity because I have to make too many choices too quickly.

Mostly I’m freaking about all the colors I’m slathering all over the walls. Teal, coral, peach, navy, oh probably some green while I’m at it… how many colors can one house reasonably (gracefully) hold?

I’m kind of a colorphobe. My downstairs closet is full of gray and black and navy. But my secret upstairs closet (the going out closet) is full of orange and pink and gold and turquoise and acid green. It seems that I almost always chicken out at the 11th hour when deciding if I should slip into something more colorful — I pretty much have to be hitting the bars at midnight to fluff my peacock feathers.

But I know that while there’s definitely an allure to cool and aloof, everyone wants to party with the crazy girl in color.

Am I right?

Still, I don’t want to go berserk in here. Crazy should not equal slutty. I just don’t think I’d be comfortable most of the time dealing with that much stimulation… from color. Duh.

I will admit to loving just a restrained shot of color — that perfect foil for an otherwise neutral and serene palette.

But I don’t know… once I get going I kind of can’t stop myself.

And then things get interesting.

I’d like to know what you think about “the rules” regarding color in decor. How many colors can you balance in one room? Three? Five? Infinity?

What about in a whole house?

I mean, we’re definitely going beyond light beige, medium beige, and dark beige here.

But can every room be a different color?

Please discuss.

[Pinterest, Porter wallpapers/fabrics, AD, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Pinterest, World of Interiors, Luxe Interiors]

So I really really need to whip the office into shape. Ben is planning to move his stuff ‘n’ things downstairs to make room for new baby plus old baby plus a guest room upstairs, but we’re a ways away from making the former dining room into a functional office. Namely we desperately need to figure out how to fit doors to our double wide entry that opens into yet another door, but considering that conundrum is giving me a headache so instead I bought some pretty shelves. Behold.

Nice, yes? They’re solid mahogany so the whippersnappers can’t flip them over whilst riding tricycles through the house. Also, I like that they offer some closed storage down low. But that color is barfaroni and I must decide what color to paint them. To give you an idea of what’s going on with the rest of that wall, I’m planning to add sconces to either side of the painting, toss in some pillows, and get rid of that monstrous coffee table.

I know. I know. I’ve been threatening to get rid of it for two months, but this time I really mean it. IT HAS TO GO THIS WEEKEND OR I MIGHT DIE.

Not that I am feeling melodramatic about the situation or anything. Anyway, if you recall my original plan was to install built in shelves around the sofa and paint them wall color, like so:

But then my buddy Christian suggested I get a pair of vintage brass etageres to avoid constructing a box around my already boxy sofa.

Yes, these would do nicely. The problem is that the office is very tiny and dimensions are tight — I just couldn’t find anything that would fit. Oh, and the other problem is budget — the pair of shelves I purchased cost less than a third of one vintage etagere. Not having to double mortgage your home to buy one shelf = priceless.

So back to the matter at hand: what color should I paint the shelves that I already bought? I confess to having a certain yearning for a corally salmon color, like this:

But then I reminded myself that this is to be a man’s office, and it’s already bad enough that I have a giant painting of a girly lady hanging front and center. (Not that this guilt will stop me from buying some pillows in that delicious color…)

Also, these guys are a little hulking. I think it’s best to choose something darkish that recedes into the wall… And although antique gold is still appealing, perhaps I ought just go with the wall color (Dark Harbor) in a gloss finish, as per the original plan? Karly thinks so.

Other choices might go a little something like this:

On the left is Black Iron (same color as our banister trim), and on the right is City Shadow (cool gray with maybe a hint of purple).

Ok guys. My job here is done. I’m tired of looking at paint colors, so it’s your turn.

What should I do?

[Inspiration images via Maison 21's pinterest]

Remember this wallpaper?

It’s the lusciously lickable, preppily psychedelic Pheasant by Twigs wallpaper that I was talking up last week.

In the interest of continuing theme Wallpaper Week, I started to shoot my sample collection in our hallway for your viewing pleasure… but then I went and ordered yet ANOTHER sample that I feel I simply must wait upon before asking your opinion.

I am going open a crazy lady wallpaper sample shop when all this is said and done — the kind of shop with dusty lampshades and random cats patrolling pee stained darkened corners. In other words, I have a problem.

While I sort out my OCD issues, I decided to shoot and post all the colorways for Pheasant because they aren’t available anywhere online. I tried my hardest to standardize the colors and density, so I think the pictures are fairly accurate. This may not be the most exciting post, but hopefully it will be useful to someone out in the world.

Blue

Brown

Gold

Gray

Malachite

Marine

Orange

Peach

Red

Rust

If you like, call the nice folks at Twigs and order some samples for free. Rolls are 100% gorgeously hand printed (from a 1980s pattern!), so you have to trim the selvedge yourself…

Cold sweat, people. That’s scary stuff.

But worth it — this paper is deluxe.

Also it reminds me of the time I “got drunk” and went to the renaissance faire to watch weird people make marbelized paper.

That alone puts it in front runner status, right?

I really, truly appreciated all your thoughtful comments and feedback on my last post. Leopard rug is scheduled to arrive Monday, so more updates on that soon. In the meantime, so many of you asked for the paint color I used in the front room that I thought I should repost it with the name of the color.

It’s Benjamin Moore Dark Harbor, mixed 25% darker.

Let me just take a minute to say that I am a picky mofo. I can tear perfection into a million imperfect pieces. That’s why Sanders is such a gem. In case you just started reading or don’t remember, Sanders is the paint genius who manages my local Benjamin Moore — he’s also the brains behind the Ask Sanders column. Without him I would I have hideous turquoise walls that make me cry angry tears of anger.

If you live in Austin or thereabouts (one reader drove up from San Antonio just to meet with Sanders!), go see him before he starts his own paint consulting empire and starts charging for his advice. He’s that good.

Plus look at his sweet little face! I love me some Sanders.

 Moving on: more Dark Harbor pictures. Wish I’d thought to shoot this with a color card so it would be truly accurate, but I think this is close. It goes from navy to almost billiard green, and everything in between.

Can’t believe I am posting this horrible picture, but it’s been raining forever so I haven’t had a chance to reshoot without all the toys. I think I took one picture of this side of the room and gave up because it is a pita to shoot without off camera lighting. Anyway, you can see that DH does go a lot lighter when faced with direct sun.

While we’re all staring at this dumb picture, let’s talk about built in shelving. The front room is teeny tiny, so to save space I really wanted to build a nook around the sofa, kind of like this:

But with far less beige… Anyway, there are two problems. First, the chair rail. Yes, we can remove it, but blending in the texture is going to be a job x infinity. Second, I don’t know if we have enough depth on that side of the doorway — it’s about 12.” Any advice on how to handle this? Ideas?

Once again I am depending on you to solve all of my problems.

Why not get busy with world peace while you’re at it?

I probably shouldn’t complain about our cushy soft middle class life, but when one of your two (old and paid for) cars blows a head gasket and the other is taking in water fast enough to sink an Italian cruise ship, it hurts. Right now I am adding up couches and upholstery and wallpaper and getting very very very sad, because something has to give. Maybe food? Prenatal care? Preschool daycare?

Oh hell no. Anything but daycare.

In other news, I really like this color:

With this couch:

Our front room/study is painted almost that exact shade of peacocky teal (thank you, Sanders!), and Alexis is currently presiding over the room in all her 70s raggedy oatmeal tweed glory. You remember that bitch, right?

Yes — despite many reservations I kept her, and actually she fits perfectly into a tight space. So maybe if I eat wonderbread for a year I can afford to have Alexis recovered in some fabulous salmon velvet.

Say it with me: wonderbread grows healthy babies.

Things are going to be just fine.

[interior via Christian May's fabulous pinterest]

First of all, thank you SO MUCH for your kind and generous well wishes on yesterday’s post! While making babies is lots of fun, carrying them is… not so much fun. Thank you for filling the gaping void left by my good friends gin and tonic. Now I promised to get off my ass and play decorating party with you, so yesterday (in between American Pickers and Pawn Stars… I am obviously addicted to vicarious antiquing) I ordered a motherload of wallpaper samples.

I’m really digging this Abigail Edwards Seascape paper for the small but bright nursery, be it boy or girl:

For a boy I would paint the ceiling dark teal, for a girl I would use aubergine. White roman shades trimmed in matching cord, deco mahogany furniture, Ike’s old hot air balloon chandelier (see it and the furniture in Ike’s old room here), this chair reupholstered in warm charcoal (patterned?) velvet, and a few tiny persimmon accents. Bam! And that’s about all that tiny room can handle. Except for a baby. (please, jeebus, let it handle the baby!)

So here is my tentative nursery girl palette.

And the boy palette.

Plus there will be lots of gold and black and flame mahogany up in that joint.

ps: we painted our front room that teal color, but darker.

pps: planning to paint the master bedroom that aubergine color… but darker.

Thoughts? Concerns?

Am I already scarring the fetus for life by plotting such things?

The scarring has to start sometime.

Better Half Ben and I have been trying desperately to get some stuff down around New House. Sadly we only got the front ceiling painted and wired in a new fixture before tragedy struck: yet ANOTHER cold is making its rounds throughout our household. So far I only have a minor case of the tiny ugly germs, but sweet baby (ok, 2 year old) Ike is super sick. Like, waking up a zillion times a night with a terrible chest rattle and horrific fever sick. I think he’s a bit better today, mostly because he’s hovering like a vulture around the computer as I type.

Anyhow, short post today, but I hope to have some pictures to show soon. I can tell you that I’m seeing some rich, saturated color around these here parts. Maybe like this:

Back soon (I hope).

Enjoy the broody moody vibe.

Yeah, I still want a blue velvet sofa. But when Jenny from MFAMB started saying things like “folex” and “lint roller” I got a little skeered. Maybe some people are better at keeping their hot stuff tidy, but I am in kid vomit and sticky jello red alert phase. Not that it’s stopping the sexy feeling I get from gazing upon such beauties as these:

Purdy.

As I type this, I remember that I may have a slice of cobalt velveteen goodness of my very own:

Oh yeah. That guy. Somehow he has escaped Ike’s jelly period unscathed, mostly due to the magic of a sheepskin cover and general neglect.

Which is why I think I’m going to sell him. Her. It. It brings tears of sadness to my eyeballs, but our bedrooms in New House are just so much smaller than they were in Old House. Blue velvet rocker must go.

Let me know if you’re interested.

In the meantime, don’t think about this:

Scary Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet… don’t think about it!

Later, taters. Sleep with the lights on tonight.

Howdy Ho Everyone!!  Long time no post, I know.  Sorry dudes, mommy’s busy, but I promised Erin I would check in today and tomorrow and gosh darn it I’m keeping my word.  Today I don’t have much because I’m sleepy and tired.  but I’m promising YOU, dear readers, that tomorrow I’ll have more.

Plus, today’s is pretty good

via

See you on the flip side.

All these peachy pink walls are giving me the blues, but not in a weepy wimpy way. More in a, I must have cobalt blue velvet stat, kind of way.

Case in point:

This fabulous vintage tufted sofa with brand new blue velvet upholstery just popped up at a local dealer’s shop. Sadly, I know this particular dealer will be charging 1st Dibs prices. Double sadly, that upholstery in my house would go from pristine to a jelly smeared nightmare in 3.2 seconds.

But look how good FloLo makes peacocky blue look with a juicy pink palette. Delish.

Almost as good as my girl Naomi Stein’s fabulous Klein blue and pantone pink office nook. Genius, no?

Go check out the rest of her amazing apartment reveal over at Design Sponge.

And then please report back to let me know where I can get an amazing kid friendly blue sofa.

If you are a paint snob like moi you know all about full spectrum paint — paint that uses double the number of pigments and no black to project a magic crystalline rainbow upon your walls. On countless blogs I have heard acolytes preach the holy gospel of Donald Kaufman and Ellen Kennon, but I attend the church of Sanders P. Gibbs III and that meant no fancy full spectrum paint for me… until Monday.

Custom mixed Donald Kaufman color on the walls.

Yes, you busters are probably wondering where your paint update is, because that bizness should already be underway, right? Wrong. Sanders called Monday morning telling me not to panic, but Benjamin Moore just released their line of full spectrum paints, called Color Stories.

Holy $%^$&^*! More choices!!! Well of course I panicked (duh). And then I ordered up a billion samples to complete the crazy quilt that is my living room wall situation.

Verdict: complete and utter obsession. I’m not sure if I just like the colors better, or if I was smitten (once again) with the Aura paint base, or if there truly is something magical and sparkly amazing about full spectrum paints, but I must have it in my life. Must. Have. It.

Here’s the color I settled on… no really, I’m sure.

Sander’s cut it to a 50% formula for me (by HAND because he doesn’t trust the computer!) since it went dark on my walls. At 50%, it’s light and airy — a little orangey, a little pink. Totally peachy keen.

Paintocalypse it scheduled for Thursday. Stay tuned for updates.